Thanksliving

This week I am grateful for these things:

1.  Blooming things - in our yard the saskatoon bushes, mayday trees and cranberry bushes have beautiful flowers on them.

2.  Grandchildren - I am so looking forward to cuddling Samuel in 3 weeks!  Meanwhile the other 3 thrill me to bits.

3.  Being able to leave school at 3:30 p.m. with nothing but an empty lunch container in my bag.

4.  Grilled veggies served with saskatoon vinegar.

5.  Spring rain showers and the rainbow that reminds me of God's promises.

6.  An aircard for the computer that makes it so easy to get internet access.

7.  Reliable vehicles.

8.  A trip to the fabric store - I love that place!

9.  Peace and quiet - in the house and in my spirit.

10.  I know I've said this before but Ann at A Holy Experience continues to inspire and challenge me.  This week she has suggestions for daily journal writing entries.  I am so going to do this - would you like to join in?  Just let me know and we can encourage one another.  

The view from our balcony in Canmore.  The inn's hot tub is behind the circular wall in the bottom LH corner and the balcony is the main one off the common area.

Thanksliving

This week I am grateful for these things:

1.  Melinda, Tyler and their little one were honoured at a baby shower in Nova Scotia today and Linda (the hostess) shared wonderful pictures online as soon as the party was over!  This is the quilt she made for "Shim" - a whole winter's project!  How I wish we could have been there to share in the fun.

2.  Safe travels as we journeyed to and from Airdrie again this weekend.

3.  A whole long day of scrapbooking with Heather - we both got lots done and enjoyed the company.

4.  Sunshine and +19 today :))

5.  A delicious lunch/brunch with Darrin.  We missed Kelsey who is fighting a cold.

6.  An Mother's Day gala evening with Heather in support of Cause Canada.  (Details to follow.)

7.  Opportunities to use my camera - taken at the mill site in Radium.

8.  Phone calls to my sister - and long chats!

9.  The voices of our grandchildren - on the phone, in person, in conversation, singing, or whispering sweet words to us - like "Gramma, please let's go to the park" or "I had a great day".

10.  Crisp salads.

I hope you have taken time to make a gratitude list - it is such a great way to reflect on the week just past.  And may the week ahead be full of sunshine and God's love!

Thanksliving

This week I am grateful for these things:

1.  Sunshine - the precious little bit of it that we've had!

2.  Sunday School object lessons that demonstrate how great the Father's love is for us.

3.  Safe travels - near and far as we travelled this week.

4.  Online shopping. 

5.  Little voices on the telephone!  This morning at 8:30 a.m., this is what we heard:  "Grampa and Gramma, come to Best Western for lunch - bring your swimsuit - love you!!"    So we did - and we enjoyed the afternoon with them!

6.  Sunday buffets - so many salads, breakfast items and desserts from which to choose :))

7.  Time with these guys this week as we travelled so they could pick up their new-to-them car.

8.  My camera(s) - and the self timer so we could get a group picture!

9.  Days with friends and the conversations and laughter we share.

10.  Email and telephone to stay in touch - I take this for granted sometimes.  We are so fortunate to be able to stay in touch with those who live far away.

May this new week be blessed for you!

Sunday's Thanksliving

I want to share some of the things that  I have to be thankful about this week!

1.  Today is Palm Sunday and that means we are very close to Easter, the remembrance of all Jesus did for us by dying for our sins and then rising to live again.  What great love the Father must have for us to send His only son to do this for us!!

2.  God's protection that surrounded Jonathan last Saturday night and kept him from harm.  His injuries include some glass in the palm of his left hand, stitches on his inner right arm and numerous bruises and bumps.  We pray that he will heal further this week and soon be back to normal.  

3.  Safe travels as we made a circle trip to Jasper, Banff and Airdrie this week.  Our spring break was spent with our daughters and their families, minus 1 husband (Tyler).

4.  Darrin and Kelsey are home from their honeymoon in St. Lucia and they had a a very good time relaxing together, doing some fun stuff and meeting new people.  

5.  My husband who pitched in and helped with dish washing, floor sweeping, chauffeuring, grandchildren playtimes and generally helping out while we were with Heather and Jonathan.

6.  Sunday breakfast brunch with family around a big table in a sunny kitchen!

7.  My washer and dryer - so thankful for appliances.

8.  Sunshine, warm temperatures and melting snow - it is possible that spring has finally made its way to us!

9.  Being home in our own house :))

10.  Pussy willows that are such a sign of spring!  Thanks to Flickr, I found this great photo by Aylaeri.

Have a happy April!

Thanksliving

Some things I am grateful for today:

1.  A day to worship and praise the Lord - and talk with the Sunday School class about why we come to church.  "It is written that my house shall be a house of prayer."  Matthew 21:13

2.  Bright sunshine and clear skies - even if the temperature is still -20 degrees C.

3.  Black Cherry Berry herbal tea

4.  Tuna Chowder for supper

5.  Bright spots of color amongst the leafless trees

6.  Researching on the internet - so easy to find what you want and check it out in depth

7.  Winter birds like cardinals and jays and the entertainment they bring to the yard

8.  Time and energy to create again

Thanksliving

This week I am grateful for:

1. Supper, a game and a visit with good friends. This has been long overdue and was thoroughly enjoyable. We made a resolution to not wait so long to repeat it!

2. Email - so easy to communicate these days!

3. Candles burning bright, warming the house with their glow and reminding me of the One who lights my way.

4. A very cozy down-filled jacket, especially when the wind was howling here today.

5. Lower gas prices - nearly half of what they were this summer - what a difference this makes when we live in the country.

6. Morning devotions with my husband and messages that speak straight to our hearts and our circumstances.

7. Colourful fabrics, inviting me to cut and stitch and create with them.

8. Good food, hot and flavourful, abundant and varied - I know that I am blessed indeed.

October Thanksliving - part 3

Today I decided to keep track of all the times that thanks crossed my mind.

For a new day

The love that Heavenly Father has for me, no matter what I've done or where I am

Running water to brush my teeth and wash my face

A place to call my studio

Automatic washing machine

Leftover bones from the turkey yesterday that are simmering as soup today

Grandchildren - all 3 of them

Fresh baked pumpkin bread

Raspberry jam tasting like summer

Internet connection to check on my friends

Telephone call to my Mom

Music playing on the CD player

A package and some letters to mail - hope they brighten some days for the recipients

An embroidered tablecloth that reminds me of where I bought it at the market in Katowice, Poland

The ability to recycle at our local landfill

Gluten Free Chocolate Cake (here's the recipe from Gluten Free Mommy)

Cool clean water to drink

A printer to print out any article or photo that I might want

Forgiveness and a Saviour who took all my sins

My camera

Candles - tall green tapers still on the dining room table

Time - plain and simple - time to finish tasks, to enjoy the moments, to rest and contemplate

Calculators!

The book of Psalms - and the praise and crying out for help that is recorded in them

Online shopping and the designers who create such beauty in jewellery, clothing and crafts

A warm home

Our dishwasher - love the time it saves me

Turkey and tomato sandwiches with cranberry mayonnaise on cranberry oat bread (love those cranberries)

Sewing

Pumpkins - love the color and the taste

Phone calls from our children

Tea in my new favourite mug (the one Mel brought from Poland)

Pumpkin pie with whipped cream (there were some leftovers!)

A comfortable bed with a warm quilt and fluffy pillows

My husband

Freedom to vote tomorrow

And tomorrow the blessings will start all over again! How marvelous God is to give me all of this plenty every day.

"Give us this day our daily bread." I have been given so much more than just daily bread - thank you just doesn't seem like enough. I need to live my life as thanks to Him.

Simple Daybook #13

For Today... October 13, 2008

Outside my Window... a grey autumn day with some breeze and the temperature at 10 degrees Celsius

I am thinking... about the good news we got from Tyler and Melinda

I am thankful for... the blessing of family and the opportunity to host Thanksgiving dinner for some of them yesterday

From the kitchen... leftovers!! Spareribs and sauerkraut for lunch, turkey casserole for supper, pumpkin pie with whipped cream and some yummy autumn breads too

I am wearing... black warmup pants, ivory sweatshirt with pumpkin scene on the front and crocs

I am reading... Three Cups of Tea (One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . Once School at a Time) by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

I am hoping... to have time to do some sewing later today

I am hearing... the sound of the grinder and the welder out at the shop where Bob is fixing something

I am creating... a layout called "Alike and Different" as the real world color challenge for week #2 in my Design Your Life class

Around the house and yard ... some chairs to carry back downstairs after seating 18 people for dinner, laundry to catch up on, wineglasses to wash and put back in the china cabinet, and some flies to chase down and eliminate!

One of my favorite things... leftovers after cooking a big dinner - some for us and some sent home with each of our kids

A few plans for the rest of the week....babysitting Meadow tomorrow, voting in the federal election, subbing on Wednesday, a financial seminar, pumpkin cookies to bake, a visit to Airdrie for a few days, and a Christmas letter to write to our Compassion sponsored child

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you. . . .



A tiny snippet of Thanksgiving decorating on my stairs.

Be sure to go over to The Simple Woman and visit some of the others participating this week.

Happy New Week to You!!

October Thanksliving - part 2

Today I am thankful for food and family, home and health, and time to enjoy my life.




The harvest is gathered in and today we celebrated Thanksgiving with our families.




The freezer is filled up, the shelves are loaded and we are ready for winter! I am so thankful for the abundance and variety of food that we are blessed with and I am reminded that there are other mothers around the world who aren't able to feed their children every meal.

Thank you Lord for providing food for us to eat. Help me to share the abundance of all that we have.





A sign of some of the cooking that went on here today :))



One of my favourite pictures of the day!!

October Thanksliving - part 1

We have so much to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving weekend so I'm going to dedicate the next few posts to making lists of some of my blessings.

For friends -




For family -




For parents -




For these two (who are far away today) -




For this little family -




For these two -




For this newly expanded family -




For her -




For him -



For her -



For peace in our land -




Stay tuned for more!

Thanksliving

I've been negligent in posting my weekly grateful list and this is long overdue.

1. Time spent with family - I treasure every. single. moment.

2. Sunday messages from our pastor - he always relates today's gospel lesson to this week's living in a very personal way that leaves me with thoughts and actions for the whole week.

3. Sunshine - the official arrival of autumn means our days are getting shorter now but the bright sun makes it a little easier to bear.

4. Beautiful new fabrics - I'll show you some of my projects soon! Going to a fabric store always results in so many plans and dreams of what could be created!



5. The gorgeous colours of autumn

6. All the bounty of fresh food gathered from gardens this summer and fall.

7. Opportunities for travel and exploration in amazing places around the world. We have been so blessed to enjoy so many places and such kind people.



8. The imagination of children - Helayna lined up all the tractors in this children's store in the mall.

Thanksliving

This post could pretty much just be about fresh summer fruits but there's more than that to be thankful for this week.

1. Our own bed! After 10 days of sleeping in other places it's very nice to be back home.

2. A chance for visiting with my parents as we drove home from Kelowna.

3. Farmers who own orchards and share the fruits of their labours (at very reasonable prices) with the rest of us.




4. That Heather and Helayna are okay after taking a tumble down a few stairs yesterday.

5. A chance to catch up a bit on blog reading.

6. Dark red dahlias gracing the dining room table.

7. Travel games like Scrabble to wile away the long hours of driving. My sister rocks at this game - she gets like 30 or 40 points per word!




8. For tiny fresh yellow tomatoes eaten straight our of Bob's parents' garden. They are amazing gardeners!!

I'm up to my armpits in sugar, peach pits and canning paraphernalia today! Back later!

Thanksliving

This week I am grateful for:

1. The miracles of growth, development and pregnancy - so much happens in just a few months and it is truly marvelous! Heather only has about 6 weeks left until we welcome a new little one. We pray that these last weeks will proceed safely and smoothly.

2. The privilege of shopping with Kelsey and her mom and getting to know them better (nothing like 12 hours together :)). And then being treated to a pedicure at the end of the day - what a wonderful treat - I was spoiled - thank you SOOOOO much, K!






3. Strawberry jam for the freezer.

4. The sweet voices of our granddaughters as they play and I chat with their moms on the phone. I can hear their excitement as they 'cook' and 'clean' and 'paint'. Man, these little girls have enriched our lives beyond measure!

5. Summer Sunday afternoons at the lake - such a great time to relax and visit with friends. Thanks, A and A!



6. Ricotta Berry Muffins - from the Serious Eats website - they are deeeelicious!

7. Coolling breezes that waft through the windows as darkness descends and it cools off outside.

8. A garden that produces fresh food for us to pick and enjoy - no transportation costs, no pesticides - only hard work and God's goodness in sunshine, soil, rain and the miracle of seeds!

And my Dad is having a procedure tomorrow that will hopefully deal with the kidney stone that's been plaguing him lately. I appreciate your prayers for him and my Mom.

Thanksliving

This week I am grateful for these things:

1. New potatoes from the garden - we had a good-bye supper with Mel and Tyler on Monday night and I served some with cream and dill - one of my favourite summer foods, I think. I remember planting the first ones on May 5th and thinking that I might be able to dig some while the Green's were home.

2. Creative inspiration from so many places and so many amazing people, including our daughter Heather - I always come home from a visit with her eager to scrapbook again

3. Nectarines and cherries - I could eat them all day long!



4. Summer roses - this tea rose has 15 buds on it right now! It was a Mother's Day gift from Naomi and Jerry and I am enjoying it so much!!

5. Bridal showers - Jerry's sister Amanda is getting married in a few weeks so Naomi had a shower for her last night. It was fun to learn more about her and Bruce - and to see her excitement over the wonderful new things she received for their home.

6. Summer trips with friends - Bob went away on a fishing trip with 3 other guys to the Canadian Princess Resort on Vancouver Island. They didn't catch too many fish but they did have a wonderful trip, from a few of the stories I've heard. It makes me happy to hear about the fun and the discussions that good friends can share. We are blessed to be surrounded by very special friends.

7. Hugs and kisses from granddaughters - I am so grateful that we get to see them often!!

8. Summer rains that bring moisture to nourish growing things. The canola crops are blooming in our area now and the landscapes are gorgeous with deep greens, golden yellows and big blue Alberta skies.

Thanksliving

This week I am grateful for:

1. Birthday cakes - I baked 2 of them for our weekend celebrations today.

2. A clean garage - whole lot of organizing and throwing away happened in there this week.

3. Fresh flowers from the garden - Meadow and Naomi sent a beautiful bunch and my Mom gave me peonies.

4. The beauty of God's creation in the mountains. We spent last weekend near Crowsnest Pass (I'll show you some quadding pictures next week).



5. Family gatherings and the memories we have to treasure from year to year.

6. Leaf lettuce from our garden - love the colour and the taste!

7. Iced tea - my favorite beverage in the summertime.

8. A fan to move the air inside the house. It's been over 30 degrees Celsius here for several days this week. And to top it all off, I baked a roast, 2 cakes, muffins and granola today - nothing like heating up the house even more!!

Thanksliving

I am grateful for these things this week;

1. Safe travels - to Edmonton, to Airdrie, to Winfield, to Crowsnest - we have been on the go alot lately!

2. A chance to visit for 6 hours with my brother and sister as we drove together today

3. Summer salads

4. Cool fresh water with lemon slices to quench my thirst



5. Wild Alberta roses blooming profusely along the roads

6. The opportunity to go on new adventures with our family

7. The excitement in Darrin and Kelsey's voices as they begin to think about wedding plans

8. Having Melinda and Tyler home for several weeks this summer - we've done lots of visiting, played games and worked together

Thanksliving

I have much to be thankful for again this week.

1. Manicures and pedicures - big treats for me!!




2. Fresh blueberries - one of my favourite summer berries. I just eat them like this!

3. Music - I brought home 2 new worship CDs from the convention and I've played them daily.

4. Lilacs and their glorious smell that wafts around the yard.

5. Sunshine and glorious summer temperatures - at least for a few days.



6. Fresh garden produce - I'm picking lettuce tomorrow!! YEAH!!!!

7. Rhubarb from the garden, baked up into muffins.




8. Sunsets and the glory of a day ending.

9. The joy of sharing momentous family occasions with our children - Kelsey and Darrin's engagement makes me thankful for the gifts of love and understanding that a couple share when they decide to spend their lives together.

Thanksliving

These things made my week special:


1. fragrant blossoms on the mayday trees - the first thing to bloom here this year.

2. days spent in complete enjoyment with my precious granddaughters.

3. weiner roasts with baked beans, salads, watermelon and ice cream - summer menu at its best!

4. devotionals and messages from God's word that speak straight to my heart and guide me daily.

5. safe travels by car and by air - Mel and Tyler are safely home in Canada.

6. seeds planted in the garden and tiny seedlings pushing through the soil.

7. bright colors and new growth in greenhouses - and the staff who work hard to have plants ready for gardens and yards.

8. iced chai latte' from Starbucks - a seriously grownup milkshake.

And apparently Blogger has decided not to allow picture posting tonight - sorry!

Thanksliving

I have so much to be grateful for every. single. day! And along with my thoughts on gratitude this week, I bring you some pictures of springtime in my little corner of the world.



1. Birthday parties and all the fun they bring - and safety while celebrating together on the trails.

2. Abundant food in our fridge, cupboard and on our table



Can you spot the swans flying over the creek in this picture? They were so graceful and beautiful.


3. time to read, study and meditate on God's word

4. our monthly book club gathering with good conversation, much laughter and a shared love of reading

5. the opportunity to send cards, letters and packages and imagine the happy smiles the recipients will have




6. phone calls from family and friends, scattered across the country, around the world and still caring

7. clean polished windows - we can see our world again!



8. freshly tilled garden soil waiting for warmth and then planting

Thanksliving

I have so much to be thankful for this week. I am blessed every single day.

1. Warm weather and sunshine in the spring time. We've enjoyed a few days of it but it's not going to last - the forecast is for -4 and flurries on Saturday, Sunday and into next week. That just means lawn and garden work will have to wait yet - and that's something to be thankful for!!

2. Walks with these two special people!



The plan to get up on the rock didn't work out so well!


3. New recipes - I tried Sauerkraut with Apples and Pork Chops this week.

4. Learning with and helping my confirmation class to understand God's word, what it means to believe in Him and how to live your life as He intended you to do. Teens can ask the hardest questions! But that's a very good thing when we are learning.

5. Learning new creative techniques



My sister and her friend are always finding something new to try and yesterday I got to join them. I was the rookie so I got the job of sprinkling glitter all over things - and then trying to put the extra away and brush it off everything!



These are going to become cards very soon! They were made using tacky tape, punches and 3 colors of ultrafine glitter. They are so much better in real life!

6. Happy mail like cards, invitations and notes - I so appreciate the time and effort that people take to send these along.

7. Haircuts and new hairdressers - it worked out just great!

8. Phone calls from loved ones - this morning the first call of the day was "Hi, Gramma!" - what a sweet sound!!